Embedded Files
Do It the Write Way...my journey as a writer.
Do It the Write Way...my journey as a writer.
There I am. Heading to my first day of Kindergarten. I remember purposely picking out the portfolio-style bag and Holly Hobbie wallet. "What if I am asked to make a purchase and have no wallet? Certainly a mere backpack couldn't hold all of the important books and papers that I am about to receive..." These were just a few of the many thoughts that I remember running through my little mind.
There I am. Heading to my first day of Kindergarten. I remember purposely picking out the portfolio-style bag and Holly Hobbie wallet. "What if I am asked to make a purchase and have no wallet? Certainly a mere backpack couldn't hold all of the important books and papers that I am about to receive..." These were just a few of the many thoughts that I remember running through my little mind.
Unfortunately for me and despite my preparedness, my young parents hadn't readied me for what was to come. I was a young 5 year old with a late August birthday. I had not attended preschool and had never spent more than an afternoon away from my mom or my siblings. Long story short, I threw up that day. And almost every time my class walked past the cafeteria or if I remotely smelled the cafeteria's sterile, mass-produced, hot ketchup-ey aroma.
Unfortunately for me and despite my preparedness, my young parents hadn't readied me for what was to come. I was a young 5 year old with a late August birthday. I had not attended preschool and had never spent more than an afternoon away from my mom or my siblings. Long story short, I threw up that day. And almost every time my class walked past the cafeteria or if I remotely smelled the cafeteria's sterile, mass-produced, hot ketchup-ey aroma.
What I'm saying here, folks, is that I almost failed kindergarten because I vomited EVERY DAY. This could at-best be described as a rocky start to my school career. If I did make it through the hallway without gagging, then I struggled with almost everything asked of me. I was always significantly behind in the 3-R's, reading, writing, and arithmetic. I also struggled with tying my shoes, telling time, and counting money!
What I'm saying here, folks, is that I almost failed kindergarten because I vomited EVERY DAY. This could at-best be described as a rocky start to my school career. If I did make it through the hallway without gagging, then I struggled with almost everything asked of me. I was always significantly behind in the 3-R's, reading, writing, and arithmetic. I also struggled with tying my shoes, telling time, and counting money!
By 2nd grade, my confidence had hit a low. As you can see on this report card, I got a "D" in Handwriting. I cried inconsolably. My "individual letters were hurriedly and incorrectly made many times"? I believe it. I vaguely remember handwriting practice and tearing the red and blue-lined newsprint paper in an effort to get it just right. I still am guilty of trying to get everything "just right". While this is, in every sense of the phrase, a character flaw, striving for perfection eventually pays off when it comes to editing and revision...
By 2nd grade, my confidence had hit a low. As you can see on this report card, I got a "D" in Handwriting. I cried inconsolably. My "individual letters were hurriedly and incorrectly made many times"? I believe it. I vaguely remember handwriting practice and tearing the red and blue-lined newsprint paper in an effort to get it just right. I still am guilty of trying to get everything "just right". While this is, in every sense of the phrase, a character flaw, striving for perfection eventually pays off when it comes to editing and revision...
Fast forward to 5th grade: I fell in love with my teacher. No really. I adored him. He read all the Chronicles of Narnia books, Bridge to Terabithia, and Beowulf to us. He let me write a gross story about beheadings and impalement. He saw that I had the capacity to be a "delightful person" who could stand out and be exceptional, even though I almost never willingly raised my hand to offer answers. He took the time to get to know me, and he let us in to his life as well. Mr. Gaskins played the violin and he and his wife were in a Highlander string band. He saw the value of arts in education and taught us all how to read music and play recorders. We were simply awful!
Fast forward to 5th grade: I fell in love with my teacher. No really. I adored him. He read all the Chronicles of Narnia books, Bridge to Terabithia, and Beowulf to us. He let me write a gross story about beheadings and impalement. He saw that I had the capacity to be a "delightful person" who could stand out and be exceptional, even though I almost never willingly raised my hand to offer answers. He took the time to get to know me, and he let us in to his life as well. Mr. Gaskins played the violin and he and his wife were in a Highlander string band. He saw the value of arts in education and taught us all how to read music and play recorders. We were simply awful!
What I'm saying here is that I was unable to see myself as a writer until someone else recognized me as a writer. Mr. Gaskins showered us with compliments, as evidenced here in his perfectly written cursive. His comments were almost as big as the poem! He never skimped with the praise, and we loved him for it.
What I'm saying here is that I was unable to see myself as a writer until someone else recognized me as a writer. Mr. Gaskins showered us with compliments, as evidenced here in his perfectly written cursive. His comments were almost as big as the poem! He never skimped with the praise, and we loved him for it.
I'm thankful that I saved these report cards and cheesy poems. I'm thankful that I was lucky enough to have a teacher like Mr. Gaskins, and I hope that I can be the one who recognizes the writers in all of my students.
I'm thankful that I saved these report cards and cheesy poems. I'm thankful that I was lucky enough to have a teacher like Mr. Gaskins, and I hope that I can be the one who recognizes the writers in all of my students.
Sidenote: Just ran across this article from TeachThought that parallels/extends my thoughts:
https://teachthought.com/pedagogy/what-to-do-with-a-student/
Sept/Oct/Nov Vortex
Sept/Oct/Nov Vortex
I saw this meme about adulting and have found it to be true for me lately...especially as we enter Septoctonovortex (made up word) that is the fall season for teaching, coaching and parenting.
I saw this meme about adulting and have found it to be true for me lately...especially as we enter Septoctonovortex (made up word) that is the fall season for teaching, coaching and parenting.
When I'm not googling how to fix/cook things, I'm googling new words that I hear in the news or that I hear from my students. Occasionally I get to educate others about "new" words. Recently, I had a conversation with my son about the word "boss" as it was used in the 90's; for example, "Yo, that was boss!" or "That skateboard is boss!". He said that was weird...oh, to be young and dumb again, right?
When I'm not googling how to fix/cook things, I'm googling new words that I hear in the news or that I hear from my students. Occasionally I get to educate others about "new" words. Recently, I had a conversation with my son about the word "boss" as it was used in the 90's; for example, "Yo, that was boss!" or "That skateboard is boss!". He said that was weird...oh, to be young and dumb again, right?
Here's another conversation about a word from ELA class:
Here's another conversation about a word from ELA class:
Me: "You've compared and contrasted three online middle school newspapers. Talk in your groups about what you liked/disliked about each and what you'd like to emulate."
Student: "What does emulate mean?"
Me: "When you emulate something, you try to model yourself after it. You imitate it."
Student: "Oh, you mean stuff we'd like to steal from it?"
Me: "Um...yes."
So...we are currently emulating, or stealing ideas and developing our first newspaper entries. We are all learning from/with others and working toward a published product that, hopefully, we can all be proud of! It's truly an exciting, albeit tiring, time of the semester.
So...we are currently emulating, or stealing ideas and developing our first newspaper entries. We are all learning from/with others and working toward a published product that, hopefully, we can all be proud of! It's truly an exciting, albeit tiring, time of the semester.
The beauty of the English language is that some words change, just like the seasons. Eventually we will come out of the vortex alive and ready to meet the next challenge. Until then we will beg, borrow, steal, and google...
The beauty of the English language is that some words change, just like the seasons. Eventually we will come out of the vortex alive and ready to meet the next challenge. Until then we will beg, borrow, steal, and google...
~Miss M
~Miss M
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